With three co-angler tournament victories over the past two FLW Tour seasons, Casey Martin will make the move to the front of the boat in 2013 when he’ll fish the Tour as a professional. The New Market, Ala., angler won back-to-back tournaments to conclude the 2011 season and claimed the Kentucky Lake event this past June.
It won’t be the first foray into the pro role for the 31-year-old. He fished the Southeast EverStart Series this year from the front deck, logging two Top-10s, including a 5th-place finish at the recent EverStart Series Championship at the Ouachita River.
“I’ve learned a lot the past two seasons from some amazing pros,” said Martin, who works as an electrical engineer. “It’s not just techniques either. Getting to watch the decision-making process firsthand has proven invaluable. The co-angler and EverStart programs are great stepping stones to make it to the FLW Tour and I have been fortunate to have had success the past two years which gives me confidence moving forward.
“I know how good these pros are and it will be a lot of hard work and dedication to fish at this level but I am looking forward to accepting those challenges and fishing against the best in the world.”
Martin grew up in Windsor, Ontario, on the shores of the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. After high school, he moved south to St. Louis for college. In 2007, he ventured further south in search of warmer temperatures and bigger bass – this time stopping in northern Alabama near Lake Guntersville – the scene of his second FLW Tour victory.
Martin is still looking for a title sponsor for 2013 to augment his stable of sponsors, which includes Rat-L-Trap, Boing Lures, Omega Custom Tackle, Tackle Warehouse, Evinrude, Picasso Lures, Lock-n-Haul, Power-Pole and Z-Man Fishing Products.
“I am really fortunate to have some of the best sponsors in the industry supporting me in 2013,” he added. “Being able to use the best products in the business has been key to my success as a co-angler and will play a vital role in the transition to the front of the boat.”
